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“Yeah, and you brought all your disappointment with you,” I snap. “You could have just said no. I’m not yours to rescue.”

His jaw pops. “Then why’d you call me?”

My mouth snaps shut. I can’t believe he said that.

I can’t believe I said what I said.

What is happening right now? “You’re my boyfriend’s brother, but you’re like family to me. Like a big brother and I—I called you because I thought I could.”

“Fuck.” He slides his palm down his face. It’s a rough move that makes him look a little wild. “I’m not disappointed in you, Faye.”

“It sounded like you were.” My nose is burning with emotion. I’ve never felt so unstable.

“I’m not.” The words fall roughly between us. Like he’s trying to convince me of something he doesn’t believe himself.

I feel like crap. “Right.”

“Hey.” He catches me when I try to turn away. “I’ll always come for you, Faye. You’re right, you’re family. If you need me, I want you to feel comfortable calling me. Always.”

I don’t know if it’s the liquor, missing Holt, or hormones. But tears prick my eyes and my chin quivers. “Kay.”

“Hey, what’s this now?” I think he’s going to touch me again, but he folds his arms instead.

“I’m just tired, Tate.” His brows pull together, and I admit to him what I haven’t admitted to anyone else. Not even Andy. “I’m so tired of coming second to hockey. All the time, Tate. All the time.”

A tear slips free to scorch a trail of shame down my face. Tate tracks it with those seeing green eyes.

He tells me roughly what he always tells me. “He loves you, Faye.”

I force myself to nod. “I know. And I love him.”

Tate opens the back door for me, and I climb silently inside. I catch Laura’s frown as she takes in my tears, before she knocks the back of her hand into Tate’s arm.

She thinks he gave me shit for calling him. Now she’s giving him shit.

And he lets her.

25

REMEDY FOR A HEAVY HEART

JULY 2008 – 16 YEARS OLD

The curtains in the living room slide open as the truck idles outside the front of our house. Andy and Shyanne grab their sleep-over bags and climb out of the truck, and I dare a peek at Laura.

“Sorry for waking you up.” I shoot her a small smile that feels fragile. “Thanks for coming for us.”

“Hey, no problem.” She’s so sweet. “You can call us anytime.”

I touch Tate’s shoulder before I exit the truck. His eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror. “Remember when I told you that you deserve the best?” He doesn’t speak, so I do. “Laura’s it. She’s the best.”

With that, I slide from the back seat and let the door fall closed behind me. Tate doesn’t pull away from the curb until the front door is closed behind us. Mom and Dad meet us in the entrance. They’re both in matching plaid pyjamas, but where Mom is in slippers Dad’s feet are bare.

“Was that Tate?” Dad asks.

“Yeah.” I kick off my shoes, tucking them in the closet. Andy and Shyanne follow my lead and tuck theirs inside the closet as well. “He picked us up from the party.”

“I thought Shyanne was driving.” Mom’s eyes drift between us.